Expressions Of Transcription Factor Activator Protein-2α,Estrogen Receptor-β And Matrizmetalloproteinase-9 In Lichen Planus Lesions

ObjectiveTo determine the expression of transcription factor activator protein-2α(AP-2α),estrogen receptor-(3(ER-β) and matrixmetalloproteinase-9(MMP-9)and explore its significance in lichen planus (LP)Methods30 patients (14 males and 16 females, aged from 15 to 72 years old, average age 44±14) who were diagnosed as lichen planus in our department between January 2008 and May 2009 were collected as our samples. Cases with other diseases as immune diseases, heavy disease or poor functionally of liver or kidney were excluded.30 normal human controls (19 males and 11 femals, aged from 11 to 60 years old, average age 40±12) were collected as our samples. The expressions of ER-βand MMP-9 in 30 LP lesions and 30 normal human controls were measured by immunohistochemistry. RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to measure the mRNA and protein expression of AP-2α,ER-βand MMP-9 in these specimens. All the data were arranged in x±form, comparisons between groups of data adopted t method or variance method, rare cases which did not comply with normal distribution were analyzed by rank sum test.ResultsA significant decrease was observed in the expression of AP-2αand ER-βin LP lesions compared with that in the control skin (both P<0.01), but the expression of MMP-9 in LP lesions was increased (P<0.01). In the case of LP lesions, the expression of AP-2αwas positively correlated with that of ER-β(r=0.89, P<0.01),and negatively correlated with that of MMP-9 (r=-0.91, P<0.01)Conclusions1. Compared with normal skin, in lichen planus lesions can be observed decline in AP-2αexpression, ER-βexpression decreased and increased MMP-9 expression in the phenomenon.2.The down-regulation of AP-2αmight contribute to the down-regulation of ER-βand up-regulation of MMP-9 in LP lesions. This mechanism is probably one of the pathogenesis of link for LP.3.Increased expression of MMP-9 involved in the degradation of the skin basement membrane; in estrogen secretion under normal conditions, ER-βexpression may be involved in the abnormal development of the disease, the exact mechanism and its interaction remains to be further studied.